Underbody structure of a vehicle with sliding doors

Abstract

To provide a vehicle body lower part structure of a slide door vehicle which is advantageous for protecting vehicle mounted components during a pole side collision.SOLUTION: In a vehicle body lower part structure of a slide door vehicle, in a state that strength rigidity of a first side member 34 and a second side member 36 is secured by joining the first side member 34 and the second side member 36 to each other, an arm housing part 46 of a door pocket 30 which houses a slide rail 44 for guiding the slide door is housed in a second closed cross section 36A of the second side member 36. A buffer load acting to the inner side in a vehicle width direction and applied to the slide rail 44 housed in the arm housing part 46 during a pole side collision can be received by the first side member 34 and the second side member 36 whose strength rigidity is secured.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lower body structure of a sliding door vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In a sliding door vehicle in which a door opening is opened and closed by sliding a door member along the vehicle front-rear direction, a housing portion for guiding the upper portion of the sliding door is provided above the door opening, and below the door opening, a door pocket in which a slide rail (guide rail) for guiding a roller provided at the lower portion of the sliding door is housed is provided (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when such a sliding door vehicle is an electric vehicle (EV), a hybrid vehicle (HV), or a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV), and vehicle-mounted components such as a battery pack are arranged inside the vehicle width direction of the door pocket, when a pole collides from the side of the vehicle, that is, in the so-called pole side collision, there is a possibility that the door pocket is displaced inward in the vehicle width direction due to the collision load input from the side of the vehicle and interferes with the vehicle-mounted components. Therefore, some improvement is required to protect the vehicle-mounted components during a pole side collision. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a lower body structure of a sliding door vehicle that is advantageous for protecting vehicle-mounted components during a pole side collision.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To achieve the above objective, one embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle body understructure for a sliding door vehicle, comprising: a door pocket extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction at the lower part of a door opening that is opened and closed by a sliding door, housing a sliding rail that guides the arm of the sliding door; and a side member extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction along the lower surface of the floor panel at a position inward in the vehicle width direction from the door pocket, wherein the door pocket is wider inward in the vehicle width direction than other parts and has an arm housing portion that houses the arm of the sliding door; the side member has a first side member joined to the floor panel and forming a first closed cross section between itself and the floor panel; and a second side member joined to the lower part of the first side member and forming a second closed cross section between itself and the lower surface of the first side member; and the door pocket has the arm housing portion The front The second closing of the second side member Within the area While inserted The ends of the arm housing portion in the vehicle width direction are the first side member and the second Joined to the side member attitude It is characterized by the following. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the strength and rigidity of the first side member and the second side member are ensured by joining them together. , the Second closing of the 2 side members Within the area The door pocket houses the arm housing, which contains the sliding rail that guides the sliding door. The ends of the arm housing section in the vehicle width direction are joined to the first side member and the second side member. It is. Therefore, in the event of a side collision with a pole, the collision load directed inward in the vehicle width direction applied to the slide rail housed in the arm housing can be absorbed by the first and second side members, which have ensured strength and rigidity. This is advantageous in preventing the slide rail from deforming inward in the vehicle width direction and interfering with vehicle-mounted components located on the inside of the side members in the vehicle width direction, and is advantageous in protecting vehicle-mounted components during a side collision with a pole. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1]A side view of a vehicle body to which the underbody structure of a sliding door vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view along line BB in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view along line CC in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view along the DD line. [Figure 6] This is a bottom view of the area near the sliding door pocket, seen from below. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view of a pair of side members and a plurality of cross members connecting those side members, which are part of the underbody structure of a sliding door vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from diagonally below. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of the first side member, second side member, and third side member, seen from below on the outside in the vehicle width direction. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the symbol FR indicates the front of the vehicle, the symbol UP indicates the top of the vehicle, the symbol IN indicates the inside in the vehicle width direction, and the symbol OUT indicates the outside in the vehicle width direction. The present invention applies to vehicles that are equipped with a motor as a drive source and a battery pack that supplies power to the motor, such as electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid vehicles (HVs), and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs).

[0009] The vehicle is a sliding door vehicle, and in this embodiment, the rear doors (sliding doors) on both sides in the vehicle width direction move along the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 1, the front of the vehicle body side 10 is provided with a front opening 12 for the front door, and the rear is provided with a rear opening 14 for the rear door. The rear opening 14 is opened and closed by the movement of a rear door (not shown) along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In addition, in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 42 indicates a center pillar extending vertically between the front opening 12 and the rear opening 14.

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5-7, the lower body structure of the sliding door vehicle according to the present embodiment includes a floor panel 16, a pair of side members 18, a plurality of cross members 20, 22, 24, a pair of side steps 26, a pair of side sills 28, and a pair of door pockets 30.

[0011] The floor panel 16 forms the floor of the passenger compartment, and the pair of side members 18 extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from the front end to the rear end of the vehicle at intervals in the vehicle width direction below the floor panel 16 and support the floor panel 16. In other words, as shown in FIG. 6, the pair of side members 18 extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle along the lower surface of the floor panel 16 at a position inside the vehicle width direction than the door pocket 30 described later. As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the pair of side members 18 includes a pair of front side members (third side members) 32 disposed at the front portion of the vehicle, a pair of first side members 34 disposed at the rear portion of the vehicle, and a pair of second side members 36.

[0012] The front side member 32 extends from the front end of the vehicle to the rear end of the front opening 12. As shown in FIG. 7, the front side member 32 includes a third bottom wall 3202 directed in the vertical direction, a third inner side wall 3204 rising from the inner end in the vehicle width direction of the third bottom wall 3202, and a third outer side wall 3206 rising from the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the third bottom wall 3202. The flanges at the upper ends of the third inner side wall 3204 and the third outer side wall 3206 are joined to the lower surface of the floor panel 16.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 7, the first side member 34 extends from the vicinity of the front end of the rear opening 14 to the rear of the vehicle. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the second side member 36 is joined to the lower end of the first side member 34 and extends from the vicinity of the front end of the rear opening 14 to the vicinity of the rear end of the rear opening 14. The rear end of the front side member 32 is positioned in front of the first side member 34 and the second side member 36 of the vehicle so as to cover both of these side members 18.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 5, the first side member 34 includes a first bottom wall 3402 that is oriented in the vertical direction and forms the lower surface of the first side member 34, a first inner side wall 3404 that rises from the inner end in the vehicle width direction of the first bottom wall 3402, and a first outer side wall 3406 that rises from the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the first bottom wall 3402. The flanges at the upper ends of the first inner side wall 3404 and the first outer side wall 3406 are joined to the lower surface of the floor panel 16. Therefore, the first side member 34 is joined to the floor panel 16 and forms a first closed cross-section 34A between the first side member 34 and the floor panel 16. The second side member 36 includes a second bottom wall 3602 that faces the first bottom wall 3402, a second inner side wall 3604 that rises from the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the second bottom wall 3602 and whose upper part is joined to the first inner side wall 3404 and extends below the first inner side wall 3404, and a second outer side wall 3606 that rises from the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the second bottom wall 3602 and whose upper part is joined to the first outer side wall 3406 and extends below the first outer side wall 3406. Therefore, the second side member 36 is joined to the lower part of the first side member 34 and forms a second closed cross-section 36A between the second side member 36 and the lower surface (first bottom wall 3402) of the first side member 34. As shown in FIGS. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 8, at the front end of the second side member 36, the second outer side wall 3606 is removed, and a door pocket access opening 38 is formed at the front end of the second side member 36 by the removed portion of the second outer side wall 3606, into which an arm receiving portion 46 provided in a door pocket 30 described later is inserted. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 40 indicates a front cover that closes the front end 44A of a slide rail (guide rail) 44 described later. The rear end of the third bottom wall 3202 of the front side member 32 is joined to the second bottom wall 3602 of the second side member 36, the rear end of the third inner side wall 3204 of the front side member 32 is joined to the first inner side wall 3404 of the first side member 34 and the second inner side wall 3604 of the second side member 36, and the rear end of the third outer side wall 3206 of the front side member 32 is joined to the first outer side wall 3406 of the first side member 34 and the second outer side wall 3606 of the second side member 36. In other words, the rear end of the front side member 32 is joined to overlap with the front ends of the first side member 34 and the second side member 36. A battery pack (not shown) as a vehicle-mounted component is positioned between a pair of second side members 36, and in this embodiment, it is positioned on the inside of the door pocket 30 in the vehicle width direction.

[0015] As shown in Figure 7, the multiple cross members include a front cross member 20 that extends in the vehicle width direction and connects a pair of front side members 32, an intermediate cross member 22 that connects a pair of first side members 34 behind the front cross member 20, and a rear cross member 24 that connects a pair of first side members 34 behind the intermediate cross member 22. As shown in Figures 2, 7, and 8, the intermediate cross member 22 is located above the door pocket entry opening 38 of the second side member 36, which will be described later, at the location of the first side member 34. More specifically, it is joined to the inside in the vehicle width direction at the location where the first side member 34 and the second side member 36 are joined.

[0016] As shown in Figure 2, the pair of side steps 26 function as steps for users to get in and out of the rear opening 14. They are located below the floor panel 16, protruding outward in the vehicle width direction from the first outer side wall 3406 of the first side member 34, and extend along almost the entire length of the rear opening 14.

[0017] As shown in Figure 5, the pair of side sills 28 extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from the front to the rear of the floor panel 16, on both sides of the floor panel 16 in the vehicle width direction and below the floor panel 16 and the side step 26. The side sill 28 has a closed cross-sectional structure and comprises a side sill inner 28A located on the inside in the vehicle width direction and a side sill outer 28B located on the outside in the vehicle width direction and joined to the side sill inner 28A.

[0018] Although not shown in the diagram, a roller is rotatably mounted on an arm that extends inward in the vehicle width direction from the lower part of the rear door. As shown in Figure 5, the slide rail 44 guides the rollers, and the slide rail 44 comprises an intermediate wall 4402 oriented in the vertical direction, and a pair of side walls 4404 and 4406 that rise downward from both ends of the intermediate wall 4402 in the vehicle width direction. As shown in Figures 1 and 6, the slide rail 44 is provided extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle below the rear opening 14 which is opened and closed by the rear door, and the front end 44A of the slide rail 44 extends with an inclination that displaces inward in the vehicle width direction as it approaches the front of the vehicle. As shown in Figures 2 and 6, the slide rail 44 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle along the upper wall 3002 which forms the upper surface of the door pocket 30 (described later), and its front end 44A is located in the arm housing 46 (described later).

[0019] As shown in Figure 6, the door pocket 30 is provided to house the slide rail 44 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. As shown in Figures 2-5, the door pocket 30 is located below the side step 26 and above the side sill 28, and comprises an upper wall 3002 and a lower wall 3004 that face each other in the vertical direction, and a vertical wall 3006 that connects the inner ends of the upper wall 3002 and the lower wall 3004 in the vehicle width direction. As shown in Figure 5, the door pocket 30 extends in the vehicle's longitudinal direction from the middle of the rear opening 14 in the longitudinal direction to the rear, and as shown in Figures 4, 3, and 2, the door pocket 30 widens inward in the vehicle's width direction as it moves from the middle of the rear opening 14 in the longitudinal direction to the front, widening to the innermost point in the vehicle's width direction at the front end 30A of the door pocket 30. In other words, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the door pocket 30 is wider (bulged out) inward in the vehicle width direction than other parts, and has an arm housing portion 46 in which the arm of the rear door is housed when the rear door closes the rear opening 14. The arm housing section 46 is inserted through the door pocket entry opening 38 provided in the second side member 36 and is housed inside the second side member 36. The arm housing section 46 is composed of the upper wall 3002, the lower wall 3004, and the vertical wall 3006 of the door pocket 30.

[0020] The door pocket 30 is joined to the second side member 36 with the arm housing portion 46 inserted into the second closed cross section 36A of the second side member 36. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the door pocket 30 is joined to the first side member 34 and the second side member 36 with the vehicle width direction end 46A of the arm housing portion 46 inserted into the second closed cross section 36A of the second side member 36. More specifically, the upper wall 3002 of the arm housing 46 is joined to the first bottom wall 3402 of the first side member 34, and the vertical wall 3006 of the arm housing 46 is joined to the second inner side wall 3604 of the second side member 36. In other words, the arm housing 46 is joined to the inner side surface (second inner side wall 3604) of the second side member 36 in the vehicle width direction and to the lower surface (first bottom wall 3402) of the first side member 34.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, within the second closed section 36A, the front end 44A of the slide rail 44, the upper surface (upper wall 3002) of the arm housing 46, and the lower surface (first bottom wall 3402) of the first side member 34 are joined by welding at the same location. As shown in Figures 2 and 6, the intermediate cross member 22 is connected to the first side member 34 at a position opposite the arm housing 46 in the vehicle width direction when viewed from below. Furthermore, the intermediate cross member 22 is joined to the vehicle width side of the location where the first side member 34 and the second side member 36 are joined, overlapping it on the inside. Near the joint between the first and second side members 34 and 36 and the front side member 32, the arm housing portion 46 is inserted into the second closed cross section 36A of the second side member 36.

[0022] According to this embodiment, the strength and rigidity of the first side member 34 and the second side member 36 are ensured by joining the first side member 34 and the second side member 36, and the arm housing portion 46 of the door pocket 30, which houses the slide rail 44 that guides the sliding door, is housed within the second closed cross section 36A of the second side member 36. Therefore, the collision load directed inward in the vehicle width direction applied to the slide rail 44 housed in the arm housing 46 during a side collision with a pole can be absorbed by the first side member 34 and the second side member 36, which have ensured strength and rigidity. This is advantageous in preventing the slide rail 44 from deforming inward in the vehicle width direction and interfering with vehicle-mounted components located on the inside of the side member 18 in the vehicle width direction, and is advantageous in protecting vehicle-mounted components during a side collision with a pole.

[0023] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the door pocket 30 is joined to the first side member 34 and the second side member 36 with the vehicle width direction end 46A of the arm housing portion 46 inserted into the second closed cross section 36A of the second side member 36. Therefore, it is advantageous in improving the joint strength between the slide rail 44 and the vehicle width direction end 46A of the arm housing 46 and the first and second side members 34 and 36, it is advantageous in suppressing the deformation of the slide rail 44 inward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision with a pole, and it is advantageous in protecting vehicle-mounted components.

[0024] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the arm housing portion 46 is joined to the inner side surface of the second side member 36 in the vehicle width direction and to the lower surface of the first side member 34, it is advantageous in improving the joint strength between the arm housing portion 46 and the first and second side members 34, 36, is advantageous in suppressing the deformation of the slide rail 44 in the vehicle width direction during a side collision with the pole, and is more advantageous in protecting vehicle-mounted components.

[0025] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the slide rail 44 extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction along the upper surface of the door pocket 30, and its front end 44A is located in the arm housing 46. Within the second closed section 36A, the front end 44A of the slide rail 44, the upper surface of the arm housing 46, and the lower surface of the first side member 34 are joined by welding at the same location. In other words, the front end 44A of the slide rail 44, the upper surface of the arm housing 46, and the lower surface of the first side member 34 are joined in a triple-layered manner. Therefore, it is advantageous in improving the joint strength between the front end portion 44A of the slide rail 44, the arm housing portion 46, and the first side member 34, and is advantageous in suppressing the deformation of the slide rail 44 inward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision with a pole, and is more advantageous in protecting vehicle-mounted components.

[0026] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the intermediate cross member 22 is connected to the first side member 34 at a position facing the arm housing 46 in the vehicle width direction when viewed from below. Therefore, this is more advantageous in ensuring the strength and rigidity of the first side member 34 near the arm housing 46. Therefore, this is advantageous in suppressing the inward deformation of the slide rail 44 in the vehicle width direction during a side collision with a pole, and is even more advantageous in protecting vehicle-mounted components.

[0027] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the intermediate cross member 22 is joined to the vehicle width side of the location where the first side member 34 and the second side member 36 are joined, overlapping the inward side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, it is more advantageous in ensuring the strength and rigidity of the first side member 34 and the second side member 36 near the arm housing 46. Therefore, this is advantageous in suppressing the inward deformation of the slide rail 44 in the vehicle width direction during a side collision with a pole, and is even more advantageous in protecting vehicle-mounted components.

[0028] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the front side member 32, which is provided in front of the first side member 34 and the second side member 36 and covers both the first and second side members 34 and 36, is joined so as to overlap with the front ends of the first side member 34 and the second side member 36, and the arm housing portion 46 is inserted into the second closed cross section 36A of the second side member 36 near the joint between the first and second side members 34 and 36 and the front side member 32. Therefore, the strength and rigidity of the first side member 34 and the second side member 36 near the arm housing 46 are improved by the front side member 32, which is advantageous in suppressing the deformation of the slide rail 44 inward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision with the pole, and is even more advantageous in protecting vehicle-mounted components.

[0029] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the battery pack is positioned on the inside in the vehicle width direction of the side member 18, it is advantageous in suppressing the deformation of the slide rail 44 in the vehicle width direction during a side collision with a pole, thereby protecting the battery pack. Therefore, this is particularly advantageous in protecting battery packs in vehicles such as electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid vehicles (HVs), and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) during side-impact collisions with poles.

[0030] In this embodiment, the case in which the arm housing portion 46 is housed within the second closed cross-section 36A of the second side member 36 has been described. However, the arm housing portion 46 may also be housed within the first closed cross-section 34A of the first side member 34, and the same effects as in this embodiment will be achieved. Furthermore, although this embodiment describes the case where the intermediate cross member 24 is connected to the first side member 34, the intermediate cross member 24 may also be connected to the second side member, and the same effects as in this embodiment will be achieved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 10 Side of the vehicle body 12 Front opening 14. Rear opening (door opening) 16 Floor Panels 18 Side Member 20 Front Crossmember 22 Intermediate cross member 24 Rear cross member 26 Side Steps 28 Side sill 28A Side Sill Inner 28B Side sill outer 30 Door pocket 30A front end 3002 Upper wall (top surface) 3004 Lower wall 3006 Vertical wall 32 Front side member (third side member) 3202 Third bottom wall 3204 3rd inner side wall 3206 Third external wall 34 First Side Member 3402 1st bottom wall (lower surface) 3404 1st inner side wall 3406 1st external wall 34A 1st closed section 36 Second Side Member 3602 Second bottom wall 3604 Second inner side wall (inner side in the vehicle width direction) 3606 Second external wall 36A 2nd closed section 38 Door pocket entry opening 40 Front lid 42 Center pillar 44 slide rails 4402 Intermediate wall 4404, 4406 side wall 44A Front end 46 Arm housing 46A End in the width direction of the vehicle

Claims

1. A vehicle body understructure for a sliding door vehicle comprising: a door pocket extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at the lower part of the door opening that is opened and closed by the sliding door, and housing a sliding rail that guides the arm of the sliding door; and a side member extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle along the lower surface of the floor panel at a position inward in the vehicle width direction from the door pocket, The aforementioned door pocket is wider in the vehicle width direction than other parts and has an arm housing portion in which the arm of the sliding door is housed. The side member comprises a first side member joined to the floor panel to form a first closed cross section between itself and the floor panel, and a second side member joined to the lower part of the first side member to form a second closed cross section between itself and the lower surface of the first side member. The door pocket is configured such that the arm housing portion is inserted into the second closed cross-section of the second side member, and the end of the arm housing portion in the vehicle width direction is joined to the first side member and the second side member. A vehicle body understructure for a sliding door vehicle, characterized by the following features.

2. The arm housing portion is joined to the inner side surface of the second side member in the vehicle width direction and to the lower surface of the first side member. The underbody structure of a sliding door vehicle according to feature 1.

3. The aforementioned slide rail extends in the vehicle's longitudinal direction along the upper surface of the door pocket, and its front end is located in the arm housing. Within the second closed section, the front end of the slide rail, the upper surface of the arm housing, and the lower surface of the first side member are joined by welding at the same location. The underbody structure of a sliding door vehicle according to feature 2.

4. It comprises a cross member that extends in the vehicle width direction and is connected to the first side member or the second side member, The cross member is connected to the first side member or the second side member at a position facing the arm housing in the vehicle width direction when viewed from below. The underbody structure of a sliding door vehicle according to feature 1.

5. The second side member has a side portion that extends upward and is joined to the side portion of the first side member. The cross member is joined to the vehicle width direction on the inside of the joint between the first side member and the second side member. The underbody structure of a sliding door vehicle according to feature 4.

6. The first side member and the second side member are provided in front of the vehicle and have a third side member that covers both the first and second side members, The third side member is joined so as to overlap the front ends of the first side member and the second side member. Near the joint between the first and second side members and the third side member, the arm housing is inserted into the closed cross-section of either the first side member or the second side member. The underbody structure of a sliding door vehicle according to claim 1 or 4.

7. The battery pack is located on the inner side of the side member in the vehicle width direction. The underbody structure of a sliding door vehicle according to claim 1 or 4.

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